Ornamental figures for christmas



Oct. 15, 1957 LA \(ERN H. DE-H'AVE'N, 2,809,455 ORNAMENTAL FIGURES FOR cnaxsrms 1 Filed March 25, 1955 35 i say F/GI5 32 INVENTORQ LA VERN H. DE HAVEN A r RNE Ys United States Patent C) ORNAMENTAL FIGURES FOR CHRISTMAS La Vern H. De Haven, Fort Wayne, Ind, assignor to Feng Incorporated, Fort Wayne, Ind., a corporation of Endiana Application March 25, 1955, Serial No. 496,719 6 Claims. (C1. 41-10 The present invention relates to ornamental figures and more particularly to Christmas tree ornaments fabricated of glass or the like wool.

With respect to Christmas tree ornaments, it is highly desirable, and in some instances considered a necessity, that such ornaments be absolutely fireproof. Many tragic and costly fires have resulted from faulty Christmas tree appliances and the fact that ornaments have been made of inflammable material.

It is an object of this invention to provide ornamental figures which are absolutely fireproof.

It is another object of this invention to provide Christmas tree ornaments which are formed of fiber glass material.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide Christmas tree ornaments which require a minimum of labor and expense in fabrication, but which may be formed to very intricate and attractive designs.

Other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, the invention may be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that specific change may be made in the specific constructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a typical glass wool bat from which the ornaments of this invention are fabricated;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the bat of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 illustrate successive steps in the fabrication of a simple ornament design;

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a sphere or snowball configuration; and

Figs. 11 and 12 show a star design.

With reference to the drawings, and particularly Figs. 1 and 2, a fiber glass bat constitutes the raw materials from which the ornaments of this invention are formed. This bat 20 is of conventional composition and is conventionally used as insulation for ice boxes, refrigerators, freezers and the like. It comprises elongated glass fibers of approximately five (5) to twenty (20) microns in diameter with individual fibers extending longitudinally of the bat parallel to the upper and lower surfaces 30 and 32. This particular type of bat with the parallel extending fibers is to be distinguished from the bat having matted and twisted fibers which extend in random directions and will not serve the purposes of this invention. The double ended arrow 22 of Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the direction in which the individual fibers extend. As explained hereinafter, the bat 20 is resiliently expandable transversely to the thickness dimension X and may be compressed to a nominal thickness dimension which will be explained in more detail hereinafter.

Referring now to Figs. 2 through 8, an explanation will be given of how a particular ornamental figure is fabricated. A sharp instrument, such as a jack-knife, is used 2,809,455 Patented Oct. 15, 1957 to cut out a square (laid out on one surface 30 or 32) of fiber glass material along the dashed lines 24 and 26 of Fig. 2. Also, a central opening 28 is cut as shown. The cut square or block 29 of bat material is shown in Fig. 3. The opposite parallel surfaces 30 and 32 are compressed together to the nominal thickness dimension of Fig. 4. An imaginary center line 34 is assumed to extend from corner 36 to corner 38, and if the block of material is truly square as seen in Fig. 4, this line 34 will be a line of symmetry.

Fastening means for securing the sides 30 and 32 together, are provided at point locations along the center line 34 near the corner edges 36 and 38. In one preferred arrangement, ordinary staples 40 positioned substantially as shown in Fig. 5, admirably suit the intended purpose. Once the fastenings 40 have been installed, the material is released from its compressed thickness of Figs. 4, 5 and 6 whereupon the material springs into the symmetrical double-cone ornament of Figs. 7 and 8.

While the center opening 28 has been provided, it is not necessary in order to obtain the symmetrical threedimensional ornaments of Figs. 7 and 8. However, the hole 28 performs an important purpose which will be explained more fully in connection with the following figures of the drawings.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate the steps involved in fabricat ing a perfect sphere. A cylinder of material 42 is cut from the hat of Figs. 1 and 2 and is provided with a coaxial opening 44. The two surfaces 30 and 32 are compressed together as explained previously, and two staples 46 are diametrally installed to fasten the sides 30 and 32 together. The material is then allowed to expand under its normal resiliency about the diametral line of the two staples 46 whereupon it assumes the configuration of a perfect sphere.

In Figs. 11 and 12 are illustrated a rather unique star design which is cut from the bat of Figs. 1 and 2 and stapled at the bases of the respective points as indicated by the reference numeral 48. The opposite sides 30 and 32 are secured together to a nominal thickness, so that when the material is allowed to expand to its configuration of Fig. 12, a uniquely shaped star ornament results.

While only three ornaments have been illustrated and described, it will be obvious that many other ornamental configurations are possible. For example, it is possible to make three dimensional Christmas trees, bells, flowers, and the like. Instead of using staples for fastening the two sides together, stitching or rivets may be used.

As illustrated in Fig. 10, a Christmas tree bulb may be inserted in the hole 44 for mounting the ball on a tree. Since the ball is made of glass fibers, it of course cannot ignite, and additionally, since its radial thickness is relatively great, it serves as an insulating spacer to prevent the bulb 50 from contacting flammable materials.

The raw bat material is almost white in color, so that when it is placed about a colored bulb 50, it appears to luminesce itself in the same color. It provides a very effective and impressive color display.

The individual ornaments may be colored with suitable dyes if desired. While glass fiber bats have been specifically mentioned in connection with fabricating this invention, it will appear as obvious to persons skilled in the art that any mineral wool bats of resiliently compressible thickness wherein the fibers extend longitudinally of the bat can be used.

What is claimed is:

1. An ornamental figure comprising a resilient batelement of fiber glass material, said bat-element having a plurality of layers of fiber glass superimposed and having two opposite parallel surfaces adapted to be expanded apart, each layer being composed of a plurality of elongated fibers which extend substantially parallel to said surfaces, said bat-element being compressible to a lesser thickn ss whereby said opposite surfaces are closely spaced with respect to each other, and a fastening means securing said opposite surfaces together at a selected 10- cality extending from one peripheral edge ofsaid batelement to another intermediate the outside periphery, said bat-element being resiliently expandable into a three dimensional solid-geometrical figure. V V V 2. An ornamental figure comprising a resilient batelement of fiber glass material, said bat element having a plurality of layers of fiber glass superimposed and having two opposite parallel surfaces adapted to be expanded apart, each layer being composed of a plurality of elongated fibers which extend substantially parallel to said surfaces, said bat-element being compressible to a lesser thickness whereby said opposite surfaces are closely spaced with respect to each other, a fastening means securing said opposite surfaces together at a'selected locality extending from one peripheral edge of said batelement to another intermediate the outside periphery,

and a coloring material applied to said babelement to color the same, said bat-element being resiliently expandable into a three-dimensional solid-geometrical figure.

3. An ornamental figure as in claim 1 wherein said bat-element is resiliently expandable into a three-dimensional star-shaped configuration.

4. An ornamental figure as in claim 1 wherein said bat-element is resiliently expandable into a three-dimensional sphere-shaped configuration.

5. An ornamental figure as in claim 1 wherein said bat; element is resiliently expandable into a three-dimensional symmetrical double-cone shaped configuration. V

6. An ornamental figure as in claim 1 wherein 'a cavity is provided in said oat-element for the insertion of a light bulb to illuminate the same.

Reicrenees iiited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

